Lethargic Starters Concern Riley

NBA

October 28, 1995|By IRA WINDERMAN Staff Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio - — It was a preview of the Heat's season opener for everyone but center Matt Geiger.

When the Heat plays for real a week from tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Geiger will be watching at home, serving a one-game suspension for Tuesday night's run-in with Orlando Magic center Shaquille O'Neal.

With Geiger still in the lineup Friday night, the Heat fell 119-97 to the Cavaliers in an exhibition at St. John Arena on the Ohio State University campus.

Disappointed again in his starting lineup, Heat coach Pat Riley benched starting point guard Khalid Reeves for good with 4:35 to play in the first quarter. Even after reserve point guard Bimbo Coles fouled out with 7:31 to play in the third quarter, Riley went with seldom-used rookie Terrence Rencher and then shooting guard Rex Chapman at point guard the rest of the way.

"There may be a big surprise next Saturday night," Riley said of the lethargic starting lineup. "We keep taking steps back."

With just a week to go before the start of the season, there is a genuine question whether Riley has confidence in his point guards.

"It's wide open now," Riley said. "Right now we are very inconsistent for any kind of offense. We were very, very disorganized."

The Heat also struggled defensively against the Cavaliers, allowing 70 first-half points on 66.7-percent shooting and 51 points from the foul line overall. Riley's Knicks did not allow more than 118 points in any non-overtime game last season.

Before the game, Geiger was suspended for the season opener and fined $10,000 for his whack across O'Neal's right wrist earlier in the week. The punishment was stunning in its severity considering Geiger was not even called for a foul. However, considering O'Neal needed surgery on his broken right thumb and will be sidelined for up to eight weeks, it was not shocking that an example was made.

Geiger declined to comment on the penalty. His agent, Jeff Wechsler, said an appeal was being considered. Under NBA rules, the fine can be appealed, but not the suspension and the resulting $17,073 in lost wages. Geiger's fine is the second-stiffest in the Heat's eight seasons after forward Keith Askins' $15,000 fine and three-game suspension for his role in the 1994 playoff brawl in Atlanta.

NBA Vice President Rod Thorn, who issued the penalty, said the severity of O'Neal's injury - and not O'Neal status - determined the punishment.

Of the penalties, Riley said, "It's an unfortunate situation that Shaquille O'Neal was injured and we feel sorry about that. However, we also feel that there was no intent on the part of Matt Geiger to hurt Shaquille, so it is unfortunate to both parties."

Magic coach Brian Hill, of course, did not see it that way.

"If something was not done about this," Hill said, "it would have told every player in the league that it was open season on any low-post player."

Heat reserve center Stacey King, who was called for a flagrant foul Tuesday against O'Neal before the O'Neal-Geiger incident, did not receive any additional punishment Friday.

Thorn said the fact that the NBA is using replacement minor-league officials in place of its locked-out referees was not considered a mitigating factor when Geiger's punishment was determined.

"We've had flagrant fouls in games Jake O'Donnell has worked," Thorn said of the highly regarded referee. "I don't think that had anything to do with this."

For now, Geiger's absence from the opening-night lineup is the only certainty for the Heat. But based on Riley's assessment Friday night, nothing is settled.

"I'm still learning about them," Riley said. "They're still learning about me."

Chapman returns

After missing the previous four games with an inflamed right Achilles, Chapman entered late in the first quarter and played 24 minutes off the bench. He closed with nine points on 2-of-8 shooting. ... The national anthem was interrupted by a scream of "Pat, you're a bum."Riley smiled as the singer continued.